Chapter 24
brONZE
The festivities show no signs of drawing to a close and as much as I enjoy seeing the pack so at ease and enjoying themselves, I do have other priorities that need my attention. Top of the list is sitting beside me in her gray suit and she looks amazing. The blue bodysuit she has beneath that, however, is causing me much more physical discomfort than mental. What’s more, I’m sure she is fully aware of my condition.
Turning to look at me, she gives me a smile that is both innocent but pure lust at the same time. Oh yes. She knows exactly what she is doing to me and my wolf. Titan hasn’t stopped pacing since we kissed and Maya has been talking to him without me knowing what she has been saying.
“Bronze, it’s been a very long day for me, what with all the excitement of the two ceremonies. Would you mind if I retired to my room and got a shower and a good night's rest?” Her eyes tell me that rest is the furthest thing on her mind right now.
“I don’t mind at all, with the exception of going to your room. We are now living in the alpha suite. My parents moved their belongings to the cottage last night and this morning, my rooms were transferred to our suite.”
“I’ll get my immediate needs then and see you there.” Taria stands and I see a few furtive glances and knowing looks from those around us.
“I think you’ll find everything of yours is already in the alpha suite, too. I had them moved there after the ceremonies.” I give her what I hope is an innocent grin, but I’m sure by the look she gives me in return, it comes out the complete opposite.
“In that case, perhaps you’d give me a few minutes to allow me to freshen up before you join me. After all, we wouldn’t want you to arrive in, let’s say, five minutes and catch me in the midst of a shower, now would we?”
What was previously just an uncomfortable condition now becomes unbearable, and I can see Taria is fully aware of that fact. Taking off her jacket, she drapes it across my lap, bends to give me a chaste kiss on the lips and then whispers, “Five minutes, my love. Any more and I will be out of the shower, dried, in a nightdress and asleep.”
Watching as she walks away, I have to make a conscious effort to close my mouth and prevent any drool slipping down my chin. Her walk could grace any catwalk and it’s all I can do not to run after her, scoop her up and run to the alpha suite.
Now you know how I feel! That Maya is going to be the death of me by teasing and tempting, I swear to the Goddess.
‘I never expected either of them to have such an intoxicating effect on us, Titan. Taria has had me at a disadvantage all day, and the worst thing is, she’s known it! Life will never be boring with those two around.’
That’s a fact. Four minutes left!
Seeing my mother approach, I cringe as I know she will expect a hug and I so do not want her close to me right now. Having her feel that pressing against her is the worst thing that could ever happen. Taking a seat beside me, she congratulates me on Chef Ash’s promotion and then talks about how the day has been for her and father.
Three minutes!
“If you’ll excuse me, Mother, I need to see if Taria has everything she needs for the night.”
“Well done, Son. You lasted longer than your father did. He joined me before I’d crossed the dance floor on our first night and all but dragged me upstairs. I was suitably outraged by his behavior until the alpha suite door slammed shut behind us. Go! At least you can walk straight now and can give me a hug!”
“Mother, you are all a son could ask for, and more.” Standing together, I give her a hug and then darn near run across the room to a chorus of cheering and ribald comments. Waving to the pack, I rush upstairs to the alpha suite.
Stopping outside the door, I take a moment to catch my breath and gain some composure. Titan is almost howling at me to get on with it! Walking calmly into the main room, I see a trail of clothes leading to the bedroom. Walking by a shoe, then another, I hear the shower running. A blouse is by the bedroom door, quickly followed by gray pants near the bathroom.
Walking into the bathroom, I’m expecting to see the blue bodysuit, but am not prepared for the way in which it is displayed. Instead of it being strewn across the floor as I expected, it is still very much attached to Taria. She is standing in the shower, facing away from me and her wet hair streaming down her back. If it was at all possible, the bodysuit clings to her shapely form even more when wet than it did before. It envelopes her even more tightly to enhance every muscle and curve of her exquisite body.
As I step closer to the shower, Taria turns, and I’m sure she heard the growl escape from my chest. Seeing the view from the front has me suppressing the howl that Titan wants to bring forth. Stepping into the shower, I grab her and pull her to me. As I wrap my arms around her, she throws her arms behind my neck and her legs around my waist.
As her head is now slightly above me, I look up and slam my lips to hers. Feeling her respond, I push her against the wall and feel the water soaking through my clothes. Breaking from the kiss, I keep her against the wall as I try to get my jacket and shirt off. Sensing my urgency, I see Taria’s fingers become her wolf's claws and she literally shreds my upper clothes to rags.
This drives me further insane with lust, and all I can hear are Titan and Maya screaming in my mind. BITE! BITE! BITE!
Looking at Taria, I can tell she is experiencing the same emotions.
“Do it! Do it now!” She whispers in such a hoarse voice that without another thought, I grab her hair, pull her head back, and bite her neck in the most perfect of marking spots. The scream that she emits could have been heard all over the pack lands. We hear the pack howl in our minds and at least some in the packhouse must have heard her.
Not caring in the least, she looks me in the eye and we press on with our mating. Before I can rip her bodysuit from her perfect curves, she pushes me away and starts to undress herself. Just the act of withholding my desire lifts us both to another level of lust. She never breaks eye contact as she slips from the suit and then watches as I remove the last of my clothes.
Taking her in my arms again, she lifts herself so she can wrap her legs around me. As though this was part of some long practiced dance, my manhood slips into her and she sighs as it does so. Burying her head into my neck, I feel her bite me and can’t help but thrust myself deep into her until we are fully joined. Holding her there, she lifts her head and stares into my eyes. I see Maya in them as they sparkle, and I’m sure that Titan is showing in mine, too.
As much as I want to take things slowly and ensure that we are both pleasured, I feel Taria’s muscles squeezing me and I realize that this is not what she wants. She starts to slide up and down my shaft and it isn’t long before I can resist no longer. Withdrawing to the last possible contact, and then slamming into her, we begin to race each other to the finish.
Feeling her rhythm, I slow slightly to match it and as soon as I do, she reaches her climax. Her muscles grip me tightly and I feel them rippling and drawing my seed from me. The growl that starts deep in my chest echoes around the bathroom as I fill her and pull her tightly to me.
We stay there, joined and spent, until I lift my head from her neck and stare into those deep, magnificent eyes.
“I think I owe you a new suit, my lover.” She mutters as she looks at the remains of my shirt and jacket.
“It did not go unnoticed that you were a tad more careful with yours, my darling, but I’m not complaining. I am more than happy to watch you slip out of that bodysuit on a regular basis.” I give a little growl as I remember the vision. “Perhaps we should get a different colored one for each day of the week?”
“Surely, good sir, you would become bored after a short time of a daily performance?” Her eyes are laughing, but the rest of her speaks to me differently.
“I’m confident that it can be more than once daily, and even at differing times, m’lady. Shall we retire to the bedroom, continue our exercise and see where it leads us?” Still carrying her with her legs around me, I take her to the bed, where we do indeed continue until we are both satisfied and can do no more but hold each other in slumber.
Waking first, the sunlight streaming through the window is bathing Taria in its golden light and her hair shines as it spills across her pillow. Raising myself on to my elbow so I can look down on her, I marvel at how we mated last night. Considering it was all new to both of us, we certainly didn’t shy away from pleasing each other. She is certainly beautiful both inside and out.
“Not seen enough, yet?” Her voice startles me out of my reverie, and her hands slowly push the sheet down to her waist. This starts another hour of pleasure giving and receiving, much to Titan's disgust, as he is impatient for his time with Maya.
When we finally show our faces in the dining hall for a late breakfast, there are many knowing smiles, but thankfully no comments. Taria strolls through the hall, showing her strength by giving everyone an enormous smile and having not a care in the world that some of those present may have heard her as we consummated our union.
I had asked if she would like to have breakfast in the suite rather than face those that had heard us, but she was adamant that if they had heard, there was nothing that could be done about it. She wasn’t in the least bit shy that we had been good for each other and some were aware of that fact.
Our first official task of the day was to meet the Inner circle that I had appointed. They were due to meet us in the alpha office, but I had a little surprise for Taria first. Once our breakfast was finished and we had replenished some of the tremendous amount of energy we had expended in the night, I took her hand and we walked into the main hall of the packhouse. Almost opposite the alpha office is a door with a warrior blocking it, standing at attention, just as the one standing at the alpha door.
“Is that what I think it is?” Taria asked, and I could see the excitement in her eyes.
“I want to show you where we keep the pack's most treasured items and how we look after them.” I see her try to hide her disappointment and I try to hide my smile.
“Wesley has many duties as gamma, as you are aware, and guarding our treasure is one of his foremost priorities. Isn’t that so, Gamma Wesley?”
“It is so, Alpha Bronze. I will not let you or the pack down. I will give my life before I let anything happen to our treasure.” Wesley plays his part to perfection and as he steps to one side, he reveals the plaque on the door reading, ‘Luna Office.’
Watching as she sees the plaque, her hands cover her mouth. Reaching out, she runs her fingers over the plaque and looks at me with glassy eyes.
“It was hand carved by Herb. He wanted to do something personal for the new Luna and when I mentioned growing some flowers for your office, he came back with this instead. He will still have some plants for you as well, though.”
“It’s outstanding. I love it. I can see Herb being one of my inner circle before long. Wesley, Ember, Herb and Chef Ash. Sounds like a force to be reckoned with. What do you say to that, eh, Wes?” Taria punches Wesley on his bicep as he blushes at her informal use of his name. I’ve never, in all the time I’ve known him, ever heard anyone call him Wes.
Opening the door for her, Wesley waves us through the door. The room looks stunning and has a beautiful polished desk set near the enormous fireplace but away from the window. Taking time to study the layout, it has been done tactfully but in a very security focused way. It is the first time I’ve seen the finished project, and I have to admit to a certain level of jealousy.
The alpha office is a very nice space to work in, but this is something else. I feel my mother's hand in this, but also many others. The chairs are all leather but look incredibly comfortable. There is an executive chair behind the desk that you could get lost in. On the desk is a name plaque, also obviously done by Herb, stating ‘Luna Taria Blueblood, Eclipse Pack’. She picks it up and holds it to her chest.
“I’ll treasure this forever. It’s the first time I’ve seen my new name!” Watching her eyes, I see the tears forming and hold her to me.
Looking around the room, she gushes as she sees everything that has been done to make the room not only an official luna office but those things that make it personal to being her, Taria’s, office.
Reluctantly leaving her office as we now have to meet my Inner circle, as she passes Wesley, she stops in front of him, pops up onto her tiptoes and gives him a peck on the cheek. “Thank you for everything and please pass that on to all those involved for me.” If he hadn’t been willing to die for her before, he was now. I could see it in every fiber of his being.
Approaching the alpha office, my warrior lets me know that the inner circle has all arrived and are waiting. Entering the office, I see them all stand from around the conference table. I notice also that they have left the chair by my right hand empty for Taria to use. That simple show of respect goes a long way with me, and I nod to each of them as I walk around the table.
Once seated, I take a moment to introduce everyone formally to Taria. Adaline, Eve, Xander and Dixon are all very friendly and I don’t sense any type of nervous undercurrent from anyone. It isn’t a meeting to discuss anything specific, more of an informal introduction as to what can be expected in the future. Letting them chat a few moments amongst themselves, almost as a brainstorming session, to see what comes out of it, I look around my office.
“I’ll get Wesley to order one for you, if you like.” Taria’s quiet comment makes me smile.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about, I’m sure,” I reply, trying to sound sincere.
“Very well. You can carry on relying on the kitchen for a thermos of coffee. I much prefer to make mine fresh and from my own shiny new coffee pod machine.” Her giggle has everyone looking at us, but she carries on without missing a beat. “Does anyone have any spare staff hours that they can devote to Herb, the head gardener? He has been doing some amazing stuff that will benefit us all in the long run and I’m sure that he can utilize any spare muscle or time that we can support him with. Eve and Madison have got the pups involved on the weekend to do seed planting and seedling repotting. If he can find the pups something to do, I’m sure he will be grateful for any adult help. I’ll be taking an extra interest in the gardens, and Herb has a project folder that he wants to go through with me. If anyone here feels that I can help or support them in anything, please don’t hesitate to come and see me. I have an office across the hall and I will be operating on an open door policy, so don’t think you’ll have to make an appointment to see me. If I’m available at the time, I’ll be happy to see you. If I’m not, I’ll arrange something with you.”
Everyone seems to be opening up and having a warm response to Taria, which I’m pleased about. I didn’t doubt for a minute that she’d fit in, but there’s always that one percent that makes you nervous.
Once I’m satisfied that we’ve achieved what I wanted from today I call an end to the meeting and look forward to getting my luna’s opinion of everyone, although she has met some already.
“I like them all. They seem to be keen to do right by you and none of them look like they are here to kiss your ass.”
“Well, I asked for an honest opinion,” I laugh as her words sink in.
“I wouldn’t speak like that in front of anyone else, my lover, but you surely know I’ll speak my mind when we’re alone?” Taria waits for my reaction, in case I think she is too brutally forthright, I’m sure.
“My darling, I respect your open dialogue when we’re alone and know without a doubt that you wouldn’t speak out of turn in a formal setting. I’m glad that you share my thoughts on them, though. I wouldn’t want an ass kisser within ten miles of me.
Slipping herself onto my lap, she whispers, “Well, you won’t hear me say that about you! Have we got anymore official duties to perform now, or can I tempt you back to our suite for some unofficial duties?”
Walking as sedately as we can through the packhouse we make our way to our suite and are very active with unofficial business the rest of the afternoon.